Compared to the vast, echoing recesses
of the British Museum or the Metropolitan, the Barakat Gallery is unimposing.
Where similarities to museums begin is with what the shelves contain:
a collection of antiquities from different periods and cultures ranging
from 6,000 BC to the 17th century. Fayez Barakat, the proprietor
of this store, is a member of a family that owns four galleries. In addition
to the one in Los Angeles, there are two in Jerusalem, and one on the
historic Rachels Tomb Road in Bethlehem. According to Mr. Barakat,
together they make the Barakat family the largest dealers of antiquities
in the world.

The first Barakat store opened almost eighty years
ago in Jerusalem, originally with stock that catered to tourists in search
of a quaint souvenir. At that time, the more valuable collectibles were
kept among the family members, who found many of them on the land they
owned and were well known for their collection of ancient Middle Eastern
art. Mr. Barakats own interest in antiquities began at the age of
5 on the day he was playing in the family vineyards and found a Roman
coin  "and since that day, you know, Im crazy about it," he
says with a laugh.

And what advice does Mr. Barakat give to budding
collectors? Mr. Barakat says:

"Visiting a major museum, people usually find certain
subjects in that museum that fascinate them. And I think my tip to any
new collector is to pursue the field or the period or the culture, you
see, that he feels he is capable of communicating [with] Thats
the best way: to pursue a genuine interest thats totally subconscious,
the energy in that art relates to you at that phase of your life." He
adds:

"Art itself is a level of awareness, and beauty is
in the eye of the beholder. There are certain beautiful things that may
be seen as being ugly by others, and certain ugly things that certain
people can see great beauty in A genuine object has an aura and
a personality."